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Wednesday, June 7, 1911: Can take a rest now since the hurrying, scurrying has subsided in part.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

A hundred years ago today was the day after a big event. The previous day, the addition to the Muffly barn was raised.

Since this entry doesn’t take much explanation, I’m going to share some photos of five people mentioned in the diary that I didn’t previously have photos of. As I’ve worked on this blog, I’ve so often wondered what Grandma’s sister Ruth (and to a lesser extent the others) looked like. Now I know.

Lois Everitt recently shared her copy of an awesome book with me: The History of McEwensville Schools: 1800-1958 by Thomas S. Kramm. The book contained photos of Grandma’s sister Ruth, her brother Jimmie, her friends Rachel Oakes and Blanche Bryson, and Ruth’s future husband Bill (Willliam) Gauger. I contacted Mr. Kramm and he very generously allowed me to include the photos in this blog. (Lois and Tom—Thank you!! I couldn’t do this blog without wonderful people like you sharing materials and information with me. )

Now the photos:

Grandma's sister: Ruth Muffly (1913)

Ruth's future husband: Bill (William) Gauger (1913)

Grandma's brother: Jimmie Muffly (1915)

Grandma's friend; Rachel Oakes (1913)

Grandma's friend, Blanche Bryson (1913)

Ruth, Rachel, Blanche, and Bill were teachers. Rachel was the elementary teacher at McEwensville. Ruth and Blanche were teachers at one-room school houses in the surrounding area. Bill was the teacher at McEwensville High School from 1913-15. A hundred years ago teachers were not required to have college degrees. For example, Ruth graduated from McEwensville High School in spring 1911—and she was already teaching elementary school by Fall 1911.

The picture of Jimmie is from a 1915 school photo of students at McEwensville School.

It feels good to be able to cross five names off my list of photos that I’m searching for–though the quest never quite ends. I’m still looking for photos of Grandma’s father (Alfred Muffly), her oldest sister (Besse Muffly Hester), and two friends (Carrie Stout, Helen “Tweet” Wesner). If anyone has a photo of any of these people–and is willing to share, send it my way and I’d be happy to post.

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4 Responses

A wonderful blog you have! I read the “May I introduce you” article which brought me here. Brilliant timing for your blog! Love your inputs after the daily postings and pictures you have added. Looks like I have some catching up to do! Looking forward to more!

Thanks! I’m glad you enjoy it. When I found the copy of the diary in my hutch last year I realized that it was written 99 years previously. I then got thinking about doing something for the 100th anniversary. One thing led to another, and hence this blog.

I enjoy this blog so so much. I have done much genealogy of my family and would have loved to have a diary to aid me live in their lives just for a few moments. The recipes are such an additional treat. Keep writing and when the diary is done please keep on anyway. You are so talented.

Hello

I look forward to sharing my grandmother's diary with relatives and friends. Helena Muffly (Swartz) kept a diary from 1911-1914. She was 15 years old when she began this diary. I plan to post these entries one day at a time—exactly 100 years after she wrote them. I hope you enjoy this glimpse back to a slower paced time.

The header is a picture of the farm where my grandmother lived when she wrote this diary. It is located in Northumberland County in central Pennsyvlania about a mile outside of McEwenvsille. My father said that the buildings look similar to what they looked like when he was a child.